Poultry plucker



Oct. 28, 1941. J. w. KITIREQGE POULTRY PLUCKER 5 Sheets-Sheet l 'H'orngls. f

Filed June 17,- 1958 Oct. 28, 1941. J. w. KITTREDGE IOULTRY PLUGKER Filed June 1'7, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 oct. 2s, 1941.k

' J. w. KITTREDGE POULTRY PLUGKER Filed June 17, 1.938v

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 28, 1941. .l. w. KITTRDGE POULTRY PLUGKER Filed June 1 7, 1938 5 Sheets-,Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 28, 1941 l UNITED POULTRY PLUCKER John W. Kittredge, New` York, N. Y., assignorto Mechanical Plucker Corporation, New York,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 17, 1938, Serial No. 214,196 9 Claims. (ci. 17-11'1) My invention relates to a poultry plucker in which the skin of the fowl is held back against the action of plucking members by a plucking bar, and the feathers are gripped |between plucking members pressed against each other in rolling contact, wherebyl the feathers are pluckedl vtrast to a point contact or a substantial surface contact, and to cause said members to operate continuously. 3. To provide means for exerting pressurebe tween rolling plucking members and to cause them to grip the small pin feathers andv also to move apart under regulated pressure so as to admit the large quills between said rolling plucking members.

. 4. To have a plucking bar hold :back the flesh or skin of the fowl, While the grippingmembers pluck the feathers therefrom.

5. To have an exhaust fan pull the away as the rolling plucking members release -`said feathers and to deposit the' feathers ,unlinjured in a bag or other suitable receptacle.

6. To have the casing -of the device closed vexcept for openings at the gripping members and .at the bag, and to have an air current pull the feathers in between the plucking members.

7. To have a number of plucking members .spaced 'at sufficient intervalsv along the machineand across the machine so` that theywill not exert sufficient pull at .any place to tear the skin; and to have them so spaced laterally that as the fowl passes over them. they will pluck a strip clean for several inches wide along said fowl.

8. To have the fowl rest on top of the machine while being plucked, so that the operator need not support the fowl.

9. To provide mechanicalmeans to move vthe `fowl-forward as it is plucked and, at .the same time, lift it slightly, so that as the operator moves it back to the starting point to vpluck a second strip along it, he will be moving the fowl down hill, and he will have to do little or. .no lifting of the fowl.

10. To have the path of the fowl over` the grippers trough-shaped or valley-shaped, Vso that .there will be no tendency for the fowl to slip sideways.

feathers 11. To have the machine of proper height that .the operator. can stand or sit erect at his work.

`12. To have l'all parts simple and easily accessible.

I attain these objects .by the mechanism shown in the accompanying drawings, `in which- Fig. 1 isaplan View of one embodiment of the invention, the representation of certain conventional parts having been omitted for the sake of clearness. f

Fig. 2 is av vertical sectional view, partiallyvin elevation, on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and it is also taken on the line 'la-2a of Fig. 3. The scale of Fig. 2 is less than Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical view o n line 34-3 of Fig. 1 and also on the line 3cr- 3a of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlargedsectional view on the line 4'`4 of Fig. 3, but showing'parts omitted in Fig. 3 and which would be 'intersectedby line 4-4 of 3, if not omitted from that figure.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view taken on the line 5f-5 of'Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is yan enlarged sectional view of one of 'the 'joints shown in' Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged partial view of a pair of fcoac'ting gripper I irienribe'rs, membersv 66B and 1|B being'represe'nted `as typical, the member 4(itl-3 being shown inside view, and the member `ll B`bei ng slightly tilted fro'rnthe plane of' a side view.

' Fig. 8 shows apart-of the common pitch cir'- cle of the members'which are shown in Fig. 7, being taken yon the line 8 8 of Fig. '7.

Figs. 9 and 10 are diagrammatic views of a modification of the invention in which the co- `acting gripper members are smooth as contrasted with those of Fig.' 4 and in which auxiliary coupling means are employed, themembers being shown partially in section, Fig. 10 showing the coupling means as rotated ninety degrees from the position of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 ris'a diagrammatic view of a modiflcation of the invention similar to that of Figs. 9 and 10 but in which the coupling means differs from those of Figs. 9 and 10. t

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 show enlarged views of details of a modification of the invention in which the c oacting gripping members are like those shown in Figs'. 9, 10 and 11, but the coupling means are of different form. Fig. 12 shows `to the longitudinaly axis of said sleeve 66.

the hub and associated driving elements. 14 is a top View of the hub of Fig. 13.

Fig. 14 is a top View of the hub which is shown in Fig. 13.

The frame of the mechanism comprises a substantially horizontal table 24. The sides of this table 24 are connected to frame members 22 and 23 whose bottoms rest upon a floor or other suitable foundation. The frame also includes vertical members and 2| which abut the underside of the table 24. The bottom ends of the frame members 20 and 2| are spaced above the ybottom ends of the frame members 22 and 23.

The table 24 and the vertical members 20, 2|, 22 and 23 are connected in any suitable manner as for example by means of bolts 24A.

The casing of the motor 25 is bolted to the frame member 23 by means of bolts 25A. The drive shaft 28 is connected at one end to the motor shaft 25B, by the coupling 29. Near its other end said'drive shaft 28 is supported in a bearing'3, which is connected to the bottom edge of the frame member 2|, by bolts 35A. The pulley 32 is keyed to the drive shaft 28.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, bearing 31 is rigidly connected to frame member 23 as by bolts 31A. As shown in Fig. 2, bearing 38 is rigidly connected by bolts 38A to a shouldered portion of the top edge of frame member 2|, which extends beyond table 24.

These bearings carry jack shaft 4|. Jack shaft 4| has large pulley 42 keyed thereto, and this pulley is driven from drive shaft 28 and pulley 32 by belt 43. Jack shaft 4| carries sprockets 45, 41, 48 and 49 rigidly` connected thereto, and these drive the sprockets '50, 5|, 52 and 53 (shown in Fig. I) through chains 54, 55,- 56 and 51 respectively.

As shown in Fig. 4, sprocket 53 is carried on horizontal shaft 58 and said sprocket is keyed to said shaft. lBearing bracket 59 is rigidly connected to table 24 by bolts 59A. This bearing Fig.

bracket carries horizontal shaft 58 rotatable therein, and said bracket also carries stud or yspindle 5| xed rigidly in a bore thereof by setscreW59B. ISleeve 66 is turnably mounted on spindle 5|, preferably by aball bearing, such as a combined radial and thrust bearing 66C which is shown at the right of Fig. 4,- and a radial bearing 65D located inspindle 5| at the left end thereof, where strength is not required.

Integral with or rigidly connected to sleeve 65 is bevel gear 68A, which is driven by bevel gear 61 on shaft 58. Gripper member 66B, preferably of hardened steel, is rigidly connected or rkeyed to the end of sleeve 66, so that sleeve 63 operates as a gripper sleeve.

Y As shown in Fig. 4, the lower left-hand end of sleeve |56 is provided with a shoulder having an annular surface Whose plane is perpendicular Gripper member 65B has a-planar annular surface which abuts said annular surface of sleeve 65. The inner wall of gripper flange 66B is cylindricalrand apart of said wall has a drive fit on the adjacent cylindrical surface of sleeve 56. The gripping or free left-hand surface of gripper member 6GB is annular and the radial elements thereof converge to the common point O which is shown in Fig. 6. `Said gripping surface is therefore an annulus-of a cone Whose vertex is at the point O. .Y

Said free surface of gripper member 6GB iS corrugated along lines which meet at point O, as will be later more fully described.

Ball-head bolt 66E (see Fig. 6) is connected rigidly to the end wall of gripper sleeve 66 by nut SGF. This bolt 66E has a head which is a segment of a sphere.-

This head has convex surface 66H and a concave socket-surface EGG.

Intermediate gripper element E8, which is preferably symmetrical (see Fig. 6), has a central spindle 68A, a web 68C which is preferably cast integral with said spindle, and a gripper member 68B, preferably made of hardened steel, and connected rigidly to the web 68C.

As shown in Fig. 6, the cross-section of each gripper member 68B is frusto-conical. If the inclined lateral lines of said cross-section were elongated, said elongated lines would pass through points O and O2. These members 68B are also corrugated along linear elements of their respective conical surfaces, which are designated in Fig. 6 by said lateral inclined lines.

A head on each end of the spindle 68A has a spherical or ball surface 58H adjacent the web 68C, and a spherical or ball surface 68G remote therefrom. Each of said surfaces 68H and ESG is a portion of the surface of a sphere.

One of the ball ends 68G fits in the corresponding socket BGG of bolt 66E. Lock members 69, 69 and 13 and 1D', which have sockets corresponding to ball surfaces 65H and 68H, fit around said ball surfaces with sufficient clearance for a running or free-turning fit. Said lock members G9 and 10 hold between them gripper disc 1|, and the lock members 69 and 10 and gripper disc 1| are held rigidly together by screws 69A.

Obviously part 10 must be made separate from part 10 in order to assemble said parts with the adjacent head 68H. Members 69 and 69 may be integral. Member 13' is held in position by any conventional means. Gripper disc 1| has central web 1|A and gripper ange 1|B. The longitudinal elements of the lateral frusto-conical surfaces of flange 1|B converge to point O.

This combination provides a joint which is of the ball-and-socket type, but which cannot compress nor pull apart. The surfaces Whose longitudinal elements meet at point O thus roll together correctly with theoretical line Contact, corresponding to the rolling action of symmetrical conical abutting surfaces. When they are pressed hard together, they can grip between them the feathers of a fowl and, as they turn, they pull the feathers out. The cooperating surfaces of members 66B, 1|B and 68B thus have theoretical line contact, which becomes a small surface contact as the metal parts are compressed under pressure.

A secondY joint 12 which is' shown in Fig. 4 isl a duplicate of the joint just described, and it connects intermediate gripper member 68 to tightener gripper member 13 with gripper disc 62 therebetween. Membery 13 has bolt 13E and gripper flange or member 13B corresponding to bolt 66E and gripper fiange or member 66B. Member 13 has shaft 60 connected rigidly thereto, as by set-screw 13A, so that shaft 60 and member 13 turn in unison.

As shown in Fig. 4, a spring, such as leaf spring 25, is connected to table 24 by screws 25A, and said spring 26 carries socket member 25B. In termediate member 21 rests in socket member 26B and in a corresponding socket 60A in the end of shaft B0. Shaft can turn freely relative to member 21. Through said member 21, springl 26 exerts longitudinal pressure on shaft 60 and on the abutting rolling surfaces` of members 13B,`62B, 68B, 1|B and 66B, in order to make said surfaces grip the feathers,and pull them out of the skin of the fowl.

The spring 26 causes said rolling surface to grip the pin feathers and pull them out, without any substantial separation between said rolling surfaces.v When a large quillor quills enter between any adjacent pair of said rolling surfaces, the 'spring 26 yields so as to permit said rolling surfaces to separate sufliciently to grip the large quill and pull it out. The assembly is maintained even if the rolling surfaces separate so as to' operate on a large quill or quills.

The pressure of spring 26 can b e adjusted by means of bolt 3| andnutj3IA. AThe end of bolt A3| is vsecured. to or it abuts a stationaryv frame The members 60,66 and 68 are maintained inl proper relative position by the spacer discs shown vin Figs. 1 and '4. Shaft 60 is mounted between two pairs of turnable spacerI discs 14 and 15, 16 and 11. The discs are turnably mounted on uprights which are connected totable 24. As the curves of the discs approximate straight lines for short distances near their points of contact with shaft 60, said discsfpermit a small up-anddown motion of shaft 60, while maintaining shaft Y6|! sufficiently close to the plane -dened by the line 4--4 in Fig. 3. Shaft 60 turns between said turnable spacer discs. f

In order'to drive the consecutive members 1|, 68, 62 and 13V by the rotating gripper sleeve 66, the respectivev adjacent surfaces of said members Aare corrugated .as shown in Figs. '1, and 8. -The hills or projecting portions of the corrugations are thus analogous to the teeth of bevel gears, but there is a substantial difference. The hills 66M of member 66B abut the rbottoms of the grooves 1|N of gripper disc 1|B, under heavy pressure, as previously explained. The hills 1 IM `of said gripper disc 1|B abut the bottoms of the grooves 66N of member 66B, also under heavy pressure. The feathers are gripped between the interfitting portions of these corrugations. The points 1|P on the pitch arc of part 1|B of Fig. 8

and on the outline of the teeth of part` 1|B of Fig. '7. 1|B indicate the center lines of the hills and hollows which are shown kin Fig. '1. Figure8 shows a part of the common pitch circle of the members which are shown in Figure '7 and being taken on the line 8-8 ofr Figure '1.Y

Therefore, the corrugations cannot fit closely like gear-teeth, or they would cut up the feathers, and the feathers would wedge and bind in the teeth. The corrugations are made about as ilreach other. Each rolling surface drives the adjacent rolling surface by means of the corrugations. Said corrugations provide much greater grip 'and pull on the feathers than smooth surfaces.

' The series of rolling gripping surfaces just described with'its drives, grippers, joints and tighteners is duplicated as at p'lucking units 80, 8| and 82 in Figs.v 1f, 2 and 3. Each plucking unit is driven by the shaft of one ofthe sprockets 50-53, by means of bevel gears like the bevel gears 61 and 66A.

This embodiment discloses four assemblies of gripping rolling surfaces. Each assembly is identicalfiny construction and operation with the assembly previously described.

The"'sleeve |59 of unit 80, which corresponds to sleeve 66,*has a lgreater inclination to the horizontal plane than said sleeve 66. Sleeve of unit: 8| has an even greater angle to said horizontal plane than sleeve |59. The axis of sleeve |6| of unit 82 makes a smaller angle with the horizontal plane than the axis of sleeve 66. As previously stated, the axes of members 66, 68A and 60 are in the same plane. The axes of the corresponding members of each unit'80, 8|

andf82 are also respectively located in respective common rplanes which are preferably parallel to the Vfirst-mentioned plane.' This is shown in Fig. 3.

The axes of the sprockets 5|), 5|, 52 and 53 are horizontal and parallel to each other. Each of Ythe sprockets 5|J-'-53 respectively drives one of the plucking units. The angles of the bevel gears which drive the respective units are different, since the sleeves of the respective units 'are inclined at different angles to the horizontal plane, and all the shafts of said driven sprockets are horizontal.

The fowl which is to be plucked is moved from left to right in the plane of Fig. 3. The rolling plucking surfaces turn in the same direction so as to'urge the fowl from left to right in Fig'. 3, thus minimizing the labor of moving the fowl. Y

As shown in Fig.'3, the consecutive rolling and plucking surfaces are' located at higher levels from left to right.

lThe :weight of the fowl is supported on these rollingfsurfaces.` l V YAssuming that a vertical line is passed through the common vertex of a pair of rolling and gripping surfaces, su'ch as the point O in Fig. 6,

said surfaces grip the feathers at a point which 'is vspaced from said vertical line, in the direc- Thesegripping points are successively higher, as shown in Fig. 3.

The theoretical line contact' between adjacent rolling surfaces, is clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The perpendicular or radial distance from the axis of member 68A, to the outer cylindrical surface ofmember 66B, is equaltov the perpendicular or radial distance fromVthe axis of sleeve 66 to the outer cylindrical surface of member 66B. The perpendicular or radial distance from point O to the outer surface of member 1|B is greater than the effective radius of member 68B. Each of 4thelateral surfaces of member 1IB therefore, has one`or more corrugations in excess of thenumber of corrugations of .the adjacent surfaces of members 66B and 68B.

There is a suction device below the rolling and gripping surfaces, as will be hereinlafter Ieixplained, and an air current is produced around the fowl and down into the openings between the rolling surfaces, and this air current pulls the feathers ldown into those openings. Then as the fowl moves forward, and as the tops of the rolls turn forwardly, the gripping rolling surfaces operate to grip the feathers at the point represented by the points 66K,86K, 8|K and 82K, in Fig. 3.

A series of plates 8485 and 86 are arranged between the rolling surfaces of the respective units, and an end plate 8l is also provided. v The tops of the rolling, surfaces tend to move the ,fowl forwardly (from left to right in Fig. 1), and the body of the fowl then slides on plates 84, 85 and 86, between the respective plucking units. The left edges as 84A, 85A and 86A of the plates 84, 85, and 86 are just above the respective gripping points 66K, 80K and 8IK, and said edges function as the edges of plucking bars. These plates hold back the body and the skin of the fowl and, as the gripping surfaces turn forward with the feathers gripped tightly between them, said gripping surfaces pull the feathers out. The edge 81A of the last plate 87 serves as a plucking bar in a similar manner. After plucking the feathers, the gripping surfaces release the feathers.

The grippingsurfaces of the respective units are offset laterally, or in a direction perpendicular to the movement of the body of the fowl relative to the machine, as shown in Fig. 1, so that as the body of the kfowl is moved forwardly in a straight line from left to right in Fig. 1, every part of said body within the limits of the plucking members comes into engagements with one unit or another, and every partk of the fowl within those limits is plucked. The air current pulls the feathers downwardly from a space somewhat wider than the effective plucking portions of the rolling surfaces. This causes a clean plucking action along a strip which is as wide as the maximum lateral spacing between the plucking units. The rolling lsurfaces of each unit are sufficiently far apart and the grips are suiciently spaced along the units that the plucking is at small spaces over a considerable area, and the pull is not sufficient at any point to tear the skin. The rolling surfaces are offset as shown in Fig. 1 and are set at different slopes as shown in Fig. 2, so as to form a trough or valley along their center line with gripping flanges located laterally relative to said center line.

As shown in Fig. 2, a fan or blower 88 of ordinary type is fastened to member 24 as by screws 88A. Fan shaft 88B has pulley 89 keyed thereto, and this pulley is driven by belt 9| and by pulley 99 keyed to drive shaft 28. The bottom half of the hood 92 of a vacuum chamber is attached to member 24 by screws 92A. Member 24 is open, as shown in the Fig. 3. This hood 92 is connected to the suction side 88C of the fan. The plates 84, 85 and 86 above described, beside serving as plucking bars, form spaced parts of the top of the vacuum chamber. Plates 83 and 81 form side walls of the vacuum chamber, and they are attached to frame piece 24 as by screws 83B and project above the top of the vacuum chamber as shown. Said vacuum chamber is built around said rolls, and the walls |65 and |66 of said cham- ,70 91B. The tops of the rolls are exposed and they ber which abut the tightener roll 13 and other Q75 tightener rolls of the units must be of rubber or other flexible material to allo-w the rolls 13 and the like to shift` as permitted by spring 26, the wall |66 is of a material different from that of wall and preferably is of metal.

The openings through which the air enters the vacuum chamber are located between the gripper members as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and this inrush of air around the body of the fowl pulls the feathers in between the gripping surfaces.

A bag 93 is tied over outlet 88D of the fan casing by the string 93A. As the gripper surfaces move apart and release the feathers, as above described, the fan blows them into the bag 93. The discharge 88D o-f the fan casing is oblique as shown, in order to hold the bag open.

The second embodiment of my invention is generally similar to the first embodiment, the difference being in the details of the grippers and the flexible joints. In the second embodiment, the gripper discs 'Il and 62 are eliminated, each set of rolling surfaces has two grips instead of four, the gripping surfaces are smooth instead of being corrugated, and the intermediate rolls and tightener rolls are driven'from the gripper sleeves through `the flexible joints.

In Figs. 9 and 10, the gripper roll or sleeve 95 corresponds to sleeve 66. The intermediate roll 96 corresponds to member 68. Hub 94 has four pins or projections 94C, 94D, 94E` and 94F projecting therefrom. Forked arms 95D and 95F project from roll 95 and said arms respectively engage pins 94D and 94F. Forked arms 96C and 96E project from roll 96 and said arms respectively engage pins 94C and 94E. Central projections 95G and SG extend from rolls 95 and 96 .respectively, and they abut and guide hub94 so as to make the plane in which the axes of said four pins are located, always bisect the angle between the shafts ofthe rolls 95 and 96. Hence the rolls 95 and 95 rotate, so that a constant nearly constant-speed drive is provided. Either roll can be the driver and it can drive in either direction.

In Figure 11, there is shown a modification equivalent to omitting one of the tines of each of the forks of Figures 9 and 10. The projection |95F of Figure 11 engages and drives the pin 94F, and the projections |95D, |96D and ISEE correspond respectively t0 the forks 95D, 96C and 96E "of Figures 9 and 10;

In Figs. 12-14, |95 may be the driving roll or driving gripper sleeve, |96 is the intermediate driven roll, |94 is the hub, and 194C, |94D, I94E and |94F are pins orprojections of said hub. |95D and |95F are the driving arms projecting from gripper sleeve |95 and engaging projections 94D and |94F, and |960 and |96E are the driven arms projecting from intermediate roll |96 and engaging projections |94C and I94E, as sh'own in Fig. l1. The members |95B and |9613 of Fig. 12 correspond to the abutting end-portions `of the members 95 and 96.

The projections |94C, |94D, |94F, and |94F are cylindrical where they respectively engage the two differences: First, disc Il of Fig. 6 is'eliminated from Fig.v 12, and instead, smooth cone'- shaped gripper flange |95B bears directly against smooth cone-shaped Agripper -ange |96B and grips the feathers therebetween. Second, the uncorrugated gripper flanges do not act as drive members. Instead, driving member |95 drives driven member |96 through the driving arms |95D and |95F, the driven arms |96C and |96E, and the hub |94 with its projections |94C, |94D, |94E and |94F as just described. The gripper flanges |95B and |96B are equal cones having a common apex at O, and, at constant speed, they roll together without slip. The gripper flange |95B, which is driven in unison with the member |95, is rigidly secured to said member |95. The gripper member |96B is a circumferential member vwhich is rigidly secured to the drivenl roll |96. Said member |96B is provided with oppositely facing conical gripping surfaces. `The right surface, as shown in Fig. 12, faces the conical surfaces of the member |95B and coacts with said conical surface of the member |95B, to grip feathers therebetween. The roll |95 is thus provided with two diametrically opposite fixed driving arms |95D and |95F, and the roll |96 is provided with two diametrically opposite arms |960 and I96E., which are driven by the roll |95,

and in turn drive the gripper roll (not shown) at the left of roll |96. The roll |95 is provided with two diametrically opposite recesses. One of these recesses is indicated by the reference numeral 95H. Each of these recesses of the roll |95 receives the corresponding end of one of the driving arms |96C and |96E. Each of the arms |95B, I95F, |96C and |96E engages its corresponding recess only in the upper part of its circular motion.

It will be understood that my poultry plucker can be made in many forms and arrangements, and still come within the spirit of my invention. Therefore, I claim the invention broadly and do not limit myself to the forms and embodiments herein described and illustrated, but only by the following claims.

While I have shown frusto-conical plucking and gripping surfaces, and while I prefer to use frusto-conical surfaces instead of complete conical surfaces, it is to be understood that whenever I refer to frusto-conical, either in the description or in the claims, I generally include all tapered members which can have line rolling contact or rolling contact along small surfaces which are produced when tapered members are pressed against each other. 'I'he contacting plucking members may be made of resilient metal or have other suitable resilient construction in order to permit limited surface contact which is also a substantially true rolling contact.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the plucking members have coacting drive means at their adjacent faces, in order to drive said plucking members in unison. The same applies to the construction illustrated in Figs. 9-14.

Referring to Fig. 4, the spring 26 may be designated as an end-thrust spring because it exerts a force having a substantial component which is parallel to the axis of the adjacent plucking member.

I claim:

1. A plucking device comprising turnable frusto-conical members mounted to have line rolling-contact, the adjacent surfaces of said members having longitudinal corrugations, the

hills of the corrugations of one member consecutively abutting the bottomsof the grooves of associated corrugations of thek other member when said members are turned in unison, each hill having alateral wall and each groove having a lateral wall,-the lateralv wall of each hillbeing spaced from the lateral wall ofgthe associated groovegwhen each hill abuts the bottom of the respective groove.

2. Plucking mechanism comprising a plurality of spaced plucking units, each unit having turnable frusto-conical plucking members mounted so that their adjacent surfaces have line rollingcontact, driving means adapted to drive the tops of the surfaces ofsaid frusto-conical members in the same direction along a predetermined line, said surfaces of the plucking members of consecutive units having plucking zones which are offset along said line and also in a direction lateral t0 said line.

3. A plucking unit comprising at least three turnable frusto-oonical members mounted to have line rolling-contact, the axis of one of said frusto-conical members being substantially horizontal, and the axes of the associated frustoconical members being upwardly inclined.

4. A plucking unit comprising at least three turnable frusta-conical members mounted to have line rolling-contact, the axis of one of said frustoconical members being substantially horizontal, the axes of the associated frusto-conical members being upwardly inclined, and all the axes of said frusto-conical members being substantially in the same plane.

5. A plucking unit comprising a plurality of frusto-conical rolls mounted yturnably end-toend, the adjacent ends of said rolls having line rolling-contact, said rolls having substantially constant-speed driving means at their adjacent ends, and resilient means adapted to press the surfaces of adjacent ro-lls against each other.

6. A plucking unit comprising a plurality of frusto-conical rolls mounted turnably end-toend, the adjacent ends of said rolls having line rolling-contact, said rolls having substantially constant-speed driving means at their adjacent Y ends, resilient means adapted to press the surfaces of adjacent rolls against each other, and

plucking bars located adjacent the respective lines plucking members having adjacent plucking surfaces, each said plucking surface having corrugations so as to form consecutive hills and grooves, each said groove having an inner wall and valso having a lateral wall, each said hill also having a lateral wall, sai-d plucking members being mounted and said hills and corrugations being shaped so that the hills of each said surface consecutively enter associated grooves of the other surface when the plucking members are turned in unison, the outer end of the hill which enters an associated recess then abutting the inner wall of the associated recess and the lateral wall of said hill then being spaced from the lateral wall of the associated recess.

9. Plucking mechanism comprising a plurality of plucking units, each unit having a plurality of turnable frusto-conical pluckng members shaped and mounted so that the adjacent portions of their surfaces have rolling-contact along a predetermined line, said respective lines of contact of the respective units being substantially perpendicular to another predetermined line, the

pluckng members of the-respective units being driven so that the tops of their surfaces turn in the same direction, the tops of their surfaces being consecutively located at higher levels, said adjacent portions of said surfaces being shaped to operate a's plucking surfaces. A

Y JOHN W. KITTREDGE. 

